Smoking Accessory

ABSTRACT

An accessory and method for using a bong or water pipe. The generally conically shaped accessory is inserted in the neck of the bong/water pipe to prevent water splashing up the neck into consumers mouth. Ventilation holes in the accessory permit smoke to flow to the user at an acceptable rate. When inverted the accessory may hold ice to cool the smoke.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to smoking accessories, in particular bong and water pipes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Bongs and water pipes are accessories for inhaling smoke from burning organic matter, such as tobacco and cannabis. The smoke contains THC, CBD, other cannabinoids, terpenes, tar, and fine particulate matter (ash). The smoke passes through a column of water to extract certain compounds while cooling down the smoke before inhalation. However when one inhales, the smoke there is usually a splash of the bong/water pipe water that gets into the user'3s mouth causing an unpleasant taste and experience.

Some users don't clean their bong/water pipe regularly so the water accumulates ash from the flower, bacteria, fungi, yeasts, microorganisms and mold, which the user does not want to be splashed into the mouth.

Users that do not clean their bong/water pipe daily will not reap the benefits of the actual use of a bong/water pipe, i.e. water filtration.

Many bongs/Water pipes have (glass blown) built in ice wedges to hold ice to cool the smoke before inhaling. The problem with these ice wedges is that the ice wedges are inconveniently located where users hold the bong with their hands. Hands produce heat which results in the glass getting warm, which then results in the ice melting at a faster rate which then makes the water level in the bong/water pipe increase, which in turn increases the chance of getting bong/water pipe water splashed up into the user's mouth.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To address the shortcomings of the current accessories, a new accessory is provided that has these advantages and solves certain problems mentioned above.

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention there is provided a method a smoking accessory for use with a bong comprising: a thin-walled cup having a plurality of spaced apart ventilation holes in sides of the cup.

There may be 50-200 ventilation holes. The ventilation holes may be divided into groups of 5-10 holes, the groups being spaced-apart from each other. The ventilation holes may occupy 10-70% of the area of the sides.

The cup may be made of stainless steel or a food-safe material.

The cup may weigh between 5 and 30 grams. The cup shape may be one of: conical, cylinder with a base, open-ended hemisphere, or frusto-conical.

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention there is provided a method of using a bong or water pipe comprising: filling the bong/water pipe with water; adding organic matter in a burning chamber and burning the matter; placing a cup within the neck of the bong/water pipe; inhaling smoke from the burning matter through the water and through ventilation holes in the cup.

The end of the cup may rest on the shoulder of ice wedges of the bong/water pipe.

The cup may be arranged with its open side facing down. Alternatively the cup may be arranged with its open side facing up and further comprising filing the cup with ice.

Thus preferred embodiments of the invention enable the accessory to prevent splash of bong water up the neck of the bong.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 1A is a side view of an insert with holes for smoke flow that is inserted bottom up into the neck/cylinder of the bong/water pipe and rests on top of the ice wedges.

FIG. 1B is a side view of an insert inverted to make a cup into the neck/cylinder of the bong/water pipe and rests on top of the ice wedges.

FIG. 2A is a top view of an insert.

FIG. 2B is a side view of an insert with preferable dimensions in mm.

FIG. 2C is a perspective view of an insert.

FIG. 3A is a side view of an insert having an open-top semi-spherical shape.

FIG. 3B is a side view of an insert having a spherical shape.

FIG. 3C is a side view of an insert having a cone shape.

FIG. 3D is a side view of an insert having a cup shape.

FIG. 3E is a side view of an insert having a cone shape that is flexible.

Similar reference numerals indicate similar components having the following key: 1) smoking accessory, 2) Bong/Water Pipe, 3) Ice Wedges, 4) Bong/Water Piper Water, 5) Smoke, 6) Ice, 10) ventilation holes, 8) base, and 9) sides.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the accompanying figures, accessories and methods are disclosed for improving the inhalation of smoke from a bong 2, using a bong insert 1. The insert 2 is generally cup-shaped, frustoconical-shaped or conical-shaped having sides 9, base/apex 8, open end 12, and vent holes 10. The insert can be placed into the neck of the bong to pass the smoke from the bong water to the user, preventing splash and optionally cool the smoke.

The insert may rest on the ice wedges 15 or engage the neck of the bong in an interference fit. The insert may be placed into the neck of the bong in either direction: cup face down for simple splash prevention (FIG. 1A) OR cup face up to hold ice that cools the smoke (FIG. 1B).

Sides of the insert are generally tapered to allow ease of entry and gradual contact with sides of the bong or contact upon the wedges 15. The cone angle may be 10-20°, preferably about 15°, as seen in FIG. 2 . The height of the cup may be 25-40 mm with a circumference of 20-50 mm.

As shown in FIG. 1B, the insert is faceup (i.e. the open end is facing up) to hold ice. The ice does not touch the bong sides and is less affected by the user's warm hands, which makes the ice last longer. The user puts ice in the neck of the bong/water pipe and the ice is held inside the cup, which rests on top of the ice wedges.

The ventilation holes provide a way for the smoke to pass while guarding against splash. In preferred embodiments, there may be 50-200 ventilation holes and the holes may occupy 10-70%, more preferably between 20 and 40%, of the area of the sides and base of the cup. The holes may be 1-2 mm in diameter. The holes are spaced apart, preferably evenly spaced apart or divided into groups of plural (5-10) holes. The groupings provide an increased area of smooth surface to aid in washing, as the edges of the holes tend to be harder to clean. The holes may be drilled or punched into the sides and/or base of the cup.

As shown in FIG. 3 , the insert may take several forms: (a) open-topped hemisphere; (b) sphere; (c) cone; (d) tapered cylinder; (e) compressible cone.

Preferably the cup is made of stainless steel or a food-safe material. Certain materials such as plastic may be food-safe but tend to be hard to clean off the resin from the smoke. To prevent the insert being sucked up during use, the weight should be between 5 and 30 g. The insert may be made from metal pressed into a die, punched and stamped. Or the insert may be made from sheet metal punched, rolled and tack welded.

In some embodiments, the insert is resiliently deformable, so that the shape may be compressed, inserted into the neck of the bong and released to expand against the neck. For example, the insert may be made from a sufficiently thin sheet metal, preferable spring steel. The insert wall thickness may be between 0.3 to 0.8 mm to balance strength, formability, and weight. The insert may also comprise an axial slit that permits the sides to overlap when compressed laterally. For example, the cone E of FIG. 3 has slit 20 that allows edges of the sides to deformably overlap and form a smaller radius cone.

In use, the user places the matter (cannabis, tobacco) to be consumed into the bowl of the bong/water pipe. Then the cup is placed bottom up (inverted or open end facing down) within the neck of a bong/water pipe, resting on the shoulder of the ice wedges. As the user lights the matter and consumes the smoke, it passes through the water to be filtered then up the ventilation holes in the cup to the user. Inversely, placing the frustoconical cup open side up enables it to hold ice to cool the smoke. With the ice separated from the bong increases the life of the ice. With the cup into the neck of the bong/water pipe either way blocks the splash of bong water.

Terms such as “top”, “bottom”, “distal”, “proximate”, “below,” “above,” “upper, are used herein for simplicity in describing relative positioning of elements of the conduit or accessory, as depicted in the drawings or with reference to the surface datum. Although the present invention has been described and illustrated with respect to preferred embodiments and preferred uses thereof, it is not to be so limited since modifications and changes can be made therein which are within the full, intended scope of the invention as understood by those skilled in the art. 

1. A smoking accessory for use with a bong comprising: a thin-walled cup having a plurality of spaced apart ventilation holes in sides of the cup.
 2. The accessory of claim 1, wherein there are 50-200 ventilation holes.
 3. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the ventilation holes are divided into groups of 5-10 holes, the groups being spaced-apart from each other.
 4. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the ventilation holes occupy 10-70% of the area of the sides.
 5. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the cup is made of stainless steel.
 6. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the cup is made of a food-safe material.
 7. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the cup weighs between 5 and 30 grams.
 8. The accessory wherein a shape of the cup is one of: conical, cylinder with a base, open-ended hemisphere, or frusto-conical.
 9. A method of using a bong or water pipe comprising: a. filling the bong/water pipe with water; b. adding organic matter in a burning chamber and burning the matter; c. placing a cup within the neck of the bong/water pipe; d. inhaling smoke from the burning matter through the water and through ventilation holes in the cup.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein an end of the cup rests on the shoulder of ice wedges of the bong/water pipe.
 11. The method of claim 9, wherein the cup is arranged with its open side facing down.
 12. The method of claim 9, wherein the cup is arranged with its open side facing up and further comprising filing the cup with ice.
 13. A bong or water pipe comprising the smoking accessory of claim
 1. 